Rafael Grossi, the leader of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), disclosed that he had a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv prior to his visit to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate potential safety hazards following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. The dam’s destruction resulted in massive floods and heightened concerns about the safety of the power plant. The dam was responsible for maintaining a reservoir that provided cooling water for the plant. The power plant has been a focal point of tensions and has been under Russian control since their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Grossi emphasized the severity of the situation and acknowledged the tangible consequences resulting from the dam’s destruction. He stated that measures were being taken to stabilize the situation. This visit marked Grossi’s third trip to the plant, coinciding with Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive, which escalated the fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region.
When questioned about Ukraine’s plans, Grossi highlighted that Russia had control over the power plant, leading to yet another undesirable situation stemming from the ongoing abnormal circumstances. Although Ukrainian workers still operate the plant, they do so under the presence of armed Russian military forces. The IAEA has a team stationed at the plant, and Grossi mentioned that the team members would be rotated during his visit.
Having engaged in discussions with officials from both Russia and Ukraine, Grossi had previously put forward safety proposals for the facility. However, progress on these initiatives has been minimal thus far. He expressed the need for global awareness regarding the potential danger of a major accident and called for the support of the entire international community, including Russia and Ukraine, to prevent such an occurrence.
{Matzav.com}
